Card index and registering mechanism



Aug. 1 1926. 1,595,921 Y F. M. PORTER CARD INDEX AND REGISTERINGMECHANISM Filed Feb. 28. 1923 22 Morg Smnn 7l 2 C-Sr l t John Doe 527-'W'Ave M1123 'Roberf Reefs-E M2460 :7 INVENTYOR] 'flwe/me lil c/22':

' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

FLORENCE M. EORTER, OF SEATTLE, WASHING-TON.

CARD INDEX AND REGISTERING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 28, 1923.

My invention relates to the art of card index and registering mechanism.More particularly my invention relates to a device whereby name stripsor cards of members of organizations, conventions, class groups, hotelguests, or documentary designations in ofiice filing devices, may beindividually, slidably and removably held in a panel and be clearlyvisible while so held, together with means for indicating whether theparticular individual whose name appears on a given card is present orabsent, or such in formation as may be pertinent to the nature of theuse of the devlce.

The problem of knowing who are present on occasions of large gatherings,or guests in hotels or clubs, is great and the inconvenience on the partof a class leader, chairman or speaker, or other party to know whetherto call upon a particular individual is the cause of great inconvenienceas well as embarrassment in the loss of time and difficulty in locatingthe party. The device embodying my invention is designed particularlyfor the solution of the problem thus presented.

The devices heretofore designed to attain these ends are objectionablein that they are complex and have many parts designed exclusively forthe punose of holding cards with the necessary information. Whenwiresare employed as a part of the holding means they become bent andout of order from use. A primary object of my invention is to provide acard or card strip holding mechanism which is slidably and removablydisposed in a panel and is of simple construction.

Again prior art devices in practice are of ten objectionable in that themaintaining of a given card in a given position is, as a matter ofactual practice, often dependent upon the sustaining effect of othercards positioned adjacent thereto. For eflicient serv ice the cardshould be capable of remaining in its position entirely by reason of itsown holding mechanism. The dislodgment of the cards from their positionsbrings the system into great confusion since the cards are usuallyarranged according to some system, such as an alphabetical orgeographical system. It is a primary purpose of my invention to provi ea holding means capable of holding a single card .member securelyagainst any such unintentional dislodgment.

Further, it is necessarythat such cards Serial No. 621,935.

in the panel be capable of being displaced when desired to permit of theinsertion of a new additional card without disarrangement or removal ofthe other cards. A primary object of my invention is to provide aholding means that will permit of such intentional displacement of thecards Without said disarrangement or removal.

Furthermore, it is often import-ant that a protection be disposed abovethe cards to protect them from becoming soiled or from unauthorizedinterference. Such protection may consist of a sheet of transparentcelluloid or other transparent medium and this must be removablyassociated with said card. A primary object of my invention is to provide such a holding mechanism for the cards that will in and of itselfbe also capable of performing the office of holding and maintaining saidprotecting transparent medium in position. I

it is also necessary that such mechanism be adapted to hold cards ofconsiderable width instead of a mere name strip and it may be necessarythat they be disposed one on top of the other. A primary object of myinvention is to provide a holding mechanism which will. not only beadapted to hold the individual card but also adapted to hold means forholding such groups of cards, and also it is a primary purpose to havethis card holding means laterally slidably disposed so that anyparticular group of cards may be drawn beyond the edge of the panel forsuch purposes as attracting the attention or for examination bydifferent parties.

One of the conditions which must be met by any device of thecharacterherein involved is that the information must be so held as tobe capable of being visualized by those inspecting the device. A furtherprimary object of my invention is to provide a device of the class inquestion which will positively insure the disclosing of only suchinformation as is required to be disclosed and will positively hold andmaintain the card in the desired position so that no partialdisplacement or sagging is possible to interfere with the neatappearance of the device or the correct display of the desired information. Be it particularly noted that the names or typewritten matteron the cards constitute a large number of lines, as it were, and theslight displacement of such name or typewritten matter is readilynoticeable and gives the disagreeable impression inherent in any typematter which is not disposed in regular and horizontal arrangement. Thisis the basis for the condition which makes imperative a holdingmechanism which will maintain the cards in position with a very highdegree of exactness.

Finally, it is a primary object of my invention to provide such acard-index mecha nism as will. be long-wearing and will be mosteconon'iical as regards costs of manufacture.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with othersinherent in the same are attained by the mechanism illustrated in thefollowing drawings, the same being merely preferred exemplary forms ofembodiment of my invention throughout which drawings like referencenumerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1' is a front view in GlQViitlOll of a panel embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the reverse side of said panel;

Fig. 3 is'a view in cross-section on dotted line 3, 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the lateral portion of the panel andassociated parts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the card holder member;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modified form of said card holderwith associated cards;

Fig. 7 is a side view in elevation of a card clip for said modified formof card holder;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of still another modified form of acard holder and part of associated name card;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the modified form of cardholder shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a name card used in connection withsaid card holder shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Two channel members 11 and 12 are caused to form a panel by being placedback to back in oll'set relation as shown, said channel members beingfixedly held together by spot welding, riveting or otherwise. A hingemember is formed with a tubular part 13 and a projecting part 14 whichextends between. said channel members and is secured therein so thatsaid channel members may be revolvably mounted on a rod 15 which in turnis held in mountings 16. A wooden strip 17, preferably having beveledsides 18 and 19, is. disposed along one lateral edge of each channelmember and is preferably releasably held by a angle piece 20 againstthe. said edge portion of the channel. Thus formed the strip may beremovably mounted. Said strip is preferably provided with holes 21 toreceive marking pegs or pins 22. These marking pins may be of differentcolored heads to indicate distinctions in the card names opposite whichthey may use may be merely to be disposed; or their the indicate someinformation respecting card opposite which they are disposed.

A card holder 23 is formed preferably of a strip of metal or material ofa resilient character. On the end portion three tongue members 24, 25and 26 are provided. Preferably the lateral tongues 24 and 26 areshorter than the middle tongue Also the middle tongue 25 is caused to bearched in a higher plane than the said lateral tongues so that it iscaused to bear against the under side of the channel member at 27. Aname card 28 which consists simply of a strip of suitable cardboardwithout any perforations and preferably of a width equal to that of thecard holder is releasably secured in said card holder by pushing one endportion of said name card under the tongues 24 and 26.

A sheet 29 of transparent medium, such as transparent celluloid, ispreferably provided to lie over said cards and under the end portion oftongue member 25. This sheet is preferably of such width as not to reachto the end of the lateral tongue members, and this sheet is preferablyheld in said panel with only slight tension from the mid dle tonguemembers throughout the length of the panel so that it may readily bepulled out from the panel by simply gripping said sheet at its top.

The modified form of the card holder 30 shown in Fig. 6 is preferablyprovided with tongue members 31, 32 and 33 which may, in this modifiedform, be of the same length, or the card holder in this instance may bethe single tongue member 32, depending upon the use as hereinafter setforth. On the card holder clips 34 are mounted. These clips preferablyhave a hook part and a foot or guard member 36, said clip having arecess 37 in which the cardholder 30 may lie. The clip is preferablyfreely slidingly mounted upon said card holder. Cards 38, 39 and 40,provided with perforations 4.1. may be hung upon the hook part 35 of theclip 34.

It may be desired to supply the modified form shown in Fig. 6 with anarrow name card such as 28. This may be done by slip ping the said cardin the recess 37 of the clip 34 between the holding member 30 and theclip. Obviously the foot or guard member 36 will keep said card fromdislodg' ment.

The modified form of the card holder 42 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 isintended as individual end card holding means to be releasably securedto the end of a name card provided with perforation 44 in each endportion of said card. A tongue 45 is resiliently arched against thechannel member whereby the name card 43 is held in position as respectsits end portion. This modilied form manifestly reduces the amount ofmetal employed and results in reducing the cost of the card holdingmember and greatly reducing the weight of a panel.

ing mechanism embodying my invention is as follows On the name card 28is written the name of the party to be registered together with any dataor symbols which may indicate the committee or committees on which theparty is serving, or any other desired facts. This card 28 is thenplaced in the card holder 23 by pushing the ends under the lateraltongues 24 and 26. The holder is then placed in the panel by pushing theend portions under the lateral edges of the channel so that the middletongue member 25 presses against the under side of the channel at 27.The tongue members 2%, 26 and 25, besides functioning as holding meansfor the card and the holders respectively, also function to keep thoseholders above from slipping down and over those cards below and renderit possible to shove the card holders apart to make space to admit ofthe insertion of a new card holder with its card. It is plain thelateral tongue members of adjacent holders would strike each other andthus maintain the relative position of the holders. Thus the new cardmay be insorted in alphabetical or other order without disarranging orremoval of the other cards.

As the class member, delegate, or other party registered enters theroom, a peg may be inserted by such party in the wooden strip 17 in a.hOle opposite his name. The class leader with the panel before him maythen know who are present in large assemblies and know whom to callupon. In the case of a hotel or club, the clerk will have readyinformation as to the presence or absence of the party registered. Overthe cards so arranged a sheet of transparent medium 29 may be placed bypressing its edges against the cards and slipping the said edges beneaththe end portions of the middle tongue members 25, and then pushing thesheet down into the closed end of the panel. When it is desired toremove this covering sheet, the same may be done by lifting it out ofthe top of the panel, the panel top being preferably left open for thisexpress purpose.

lVhere cards are used as in the case of the modified form illustrated inFig. 6, the card holding clips 34: are mounted so that they may slidelongitudinally of the holder. This provides for the important advantagethat the cards relating to any particular name card, (whether samerefers to a person or subject matter), may be drawn to one side as shownin dotted outline, Fig. 6. This drawing of the card to one side servesto The mode of operation of the card hold-' mark them such use it be forspecial consideration. F or is not intended that the cards protected byany transparent medium.

"nal tabs consisting of different colors must often be used with cardsgrouped as here described. Heretofore these have consisted of slips ofthe nature of riders to be slipped over the top edge of the cards, butthese become disengaged in use and result in confusion. Another form ofsuch signals consists of tabs 46 securable to the edge of the card.lvlanifestly my card-holding mechanism is adapted to use such sidesignals. These signals function as handles in my invention to lift thecard, and thus avoid soiling or wearing the card, so that legibility isunin'ipaired. These tabs 46 may be fixedly secured so that they do notbecome dislodged.

The clips 34. also function to keep the =olders in place so that theycannot slip est each other. The cards 38, 39 and 40 are provided withperforations d1 so that they may be hung upon the hook part 35. Thepanel may thus be caused to accommodate several hundred cards ifdesired. The book part 35 is provided with a straight end portion 56 sothat the cards in front may be lifted to reveal the cards beneathwithout the raised cards becoming disengaged from the hook 35, asappears from the card in dotted out-line position.

Having the panels arranged back to back permits of the use of very thinmetal and they serve to stiffen and supplement each other. The woodenstrip l7 also functions to this same end, thus rendering the panel verylight in wei ht and yet capable of carrying a heavy load of cards. Theoffset arrangement makes possible the use of the wooden strips 17 oneach side, (that is, front and back of the panel), and this results inhaving the pegs 22 on the left hand side in every case. Having the hingemembers extend between the lateral portions of the channel membersresults in a strong hinge and at a minimum mai'iufacturing cost. Be itparticularly noted that the providing of a panel which involves aminimum of manufaoturing costs is one of my objects, and it is clearthat the metal parts herein described are all designed for ready assembling and may be held together by spot welding.

The modified form of card holder shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is designed tohold fast upon the card when the card is removed from the panel and yetbe an individual holding means detaehably secured to the card.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangementof the parts of my invention, without departing from the principlethereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.Obviously, the card holder 23 would be operative with only two tonguemembers, but I prefer to have three as above described.

I claim l. A card index mechanism embodying: a panel consisting of twochannel members secured together in back to back and off-set relation; ahinge member l'ixedly secured-between said channel members; a woodenstrip mounted adjacent one lateral edge oi said channel, said stripbeing provided with holes to releasably receive marking pins; and a cardholder releasably held as respects its end portions in said channelmembers.

2. A card index mechanism embodying: a panel consisting two channelmembers secured together in back to back and elf-set relation; a hingemember lixedly secured between said channel members; a. wooden stripmounted adjacent one lateral edge of said channel, said strip beingprovided with holes to releasably receive marking pins; a card holderreleasably held as respects its end portions in said channel members;and a name card releasably held in said holder.

3. A card index mechanism embodyin a panel consisting of two channelmembers secured together in back to back and o'lt-set relation; a hingemember lixedly secured between said channel members; a wooden stripmounted adjacent one lateral edge of said channel, said strip beingprovided with holes to releasably receive marking pins; a card holderreleasably held as respects its end portions in said channel members; aname card releasably held in said holder; and a sheet of transparentmedium removably disposed over said name card.

i. A card index mechanism embodying: panel consisting of two channelmembers se cured together in back to back and oil-set relation; a hingemember fixedly secured between said channel members; a wooden stripmounted adjacent one lateral edge of said channel, said strip beingprovided with holes to releasably receive marking pins; and a cardholder releasably held as respects its saidchannel members, said endportions having three tongue members folded back over said holder, twoof which are shorter than the third, said third tongue member-beingarched in a higher plane than the said two short-er tongue members,where by it is caused to bear with a pressure against said channelmembers.

5. A card index mechanism embodying: a panel consisting of two channelmembers secured together in back. to back and offset relation a hingemember fixedly secured be tween said channel members; a wooden stripmounted a "'icent one lateral edge of said cnannel, said strip beingprovided with holes to rcleasably receive markingv pins; a card holderreleasz'lbly held as respects its end portions ii said channel members,said end ortions having three tongue members folded back over saidholder, two 0t which are shorter than the third, said third tonguemember being, arched in, a higher plane than the said two shorter tonguemembers, whereby it is caused to bear with a pressure inst said channelmembers; and a name card releasably held in said holder, by said lateraltongues, which tongues also function to kecp the holders in lixedrelation with respect to each other, whereby slipping past one anotheris avoided.

6. Iill combination with a card index mechanism embodying: laterallydisposed channels, a card holder releasably held as respects its endportions in said channel members, said end portions having tonguemembers liolded. back. over said holder, one of said tongue membersbeing longer than the other, and. being arched in a higher plane thansaid other tongue, member, whereby it is caused to bear resilientlyagainst said channel member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day ofOctober, A. D. 1924.

end' portions in FLORENCE M. PORTER.

